Monday, May 18, 2009

Confirmed Case of Swine Flu At BHS

Burlington High School has learned today that a ninth grader has been diagnosed with the Swine Flu. We have been in touch with the Department of Public Health and been advised to keep school open. In addition, we will be doing a thorough cleaning of the high school over the next two nights. As always, parents are advised to keep sick children home and contact their physicians if there are any flu-like symptoms.

Flu outbreaks evolve in unpredictable ways; it is impossible to know whether this one will decrease, remain the same, or grow in coming weeks, and whether the illness will remain at its current severity which, on the whole has been relatively mild. Some severe cases may occur in people with underlying risk factors such as young children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) are watching closely for signs of increased severity of the H1N1 influenza (swine flu), and will continue to monitor and report on any developing trends. Because there is no vaccine for H1N1 influenza, public health officials remind all Massachusetts residents to continue taking simple steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Cover your cough with a tissue or cough into your inner elbow and not into your hands.

If you are sick stay home from work and if your child is sick keep them home from school.

2 comments:

I spoke to my doctor yesterday and she advised that any teacher who had contact with the student should contact their doctor. She also said it was very important for teachers who are pregnant to seek the advice of the dr.'s. I think that while we should respect the parent's desire to keep the name of their child anonymous, I think that teachers could be called down and told that it was one of their students without being told the name. It's a common courtesy.